Apparatus in connection with sewage or like tanks.



PATENTED JULY 14, 19.03.

- T. H. RAMSDEN. APPARATUS IN CONNECTION WITH SEWAGE OR LIKE TANKS.

APPLIOA'IION FILED NOV. 12, 1902.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1902.

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No. 733,746. PATENTED JULY 14, 190s.

'1. H. RAMSDEN.

APPARATUS IN CONNECTION WITH SEWAGE OR LIKE TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1902.

No. 733,746. PATBNTED JULY 14, 1903.

T. H. RAMSDEN. APPARATUS IN CONNECTION WITHSBWAGE OR LIKE TANKS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1902. I H0 MODEL 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. I

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'UNITED STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS IN CONNECTION WITH SEWAGE 0 R ElKE TANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,746, dated July 14,1903. Application filed November 12,1902. Serial No. 130,969. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that I, THOMAS HENRY RAMs-DEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland,residing atBramhope,near Leeds, in the county of York,England, have inventedcertain new and useful Apparatus in Connection with Sewage or LikeTanks, (for which I have made application for a patent in Great Britain,No. 9,247, bearing date April 22,,

1902,) of which the followingis a specification. In the bacterialtreatment of sewage the system of tanks may consist of a settling-tankor first receiver, from which the effluent is passed continuously to aseptic-tank, from which the effiuent is fed to each of a series of openbacterial tanks in succession, which latter tanks are permitted to standfull for a given time, and when the desired amount of purification hastaken place the said tanks are successively discharged and allowed toremain empty and at rest for a suitable period before receiving afurther supply.

In the practical management of sewage wit a system of tanks, as abovedescribed, it is desirable, both for the sake of economy and regularity,that the inflow and discharge from the separate tanks should take placeautomatically. The effecting of this automatic operation of the tanks,however, is met with considerable difficulties, among which is theconstant variation in the quantity of sewage to be treated, owingchiefly to the variation in rainfall, as it is obvious that a set oftanks arranged to treat a comparatively small amount of sewage will bewholly inadequateat the time when a heavy fall of rain causes a largeamount of flood-water to come down to the sewage.

Now my invention relates, first, to apparatus in connection with thesettling-tank or first receiver, consisting in providing thedischarge-pipe with a suitable valve which is' able valves which arecapable of being automatically opened by means of floats contained inthe adjacent tanks through the medium of certain intermediate mechanismand also of being automatically released by certain other mechanism forfeeding the effluent from the trough to'each of the tanks successively,and, further,to apparatus in connection with the series of tanks,consisting in providing their discharge-pipes with suitablevalves whichare capable of being automatically opened by means of floats containedin the said tanks through the medium of certain intermediate mechanismfor effecting the discharge of each tank successively. In this way thevarious tanks may be allowed to fill and discharge automatically at thedesired times for a normal or dry-weather flow, said apparatus being socontrived as to automatically deal with an increased quantity of sewagein case of a storm or other excess flow and then automatically return tothe normal state on the excess flow subsiding in the settling-tank orfirst receiver.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, on a. reduced scale, showing asystem of tanks such as that hereinbefore referred to, together with thetrough and mechanism in connection with the trough and tanks foroffooting the desired automatic inflow and discharge. side elevation andfront elevation showing the type of valve I employ arranged inconnection with a discharge-pipe. Figs. 4: and 5 show in sectionalelevation and transverse section, respectively,a portion of thesettlingtank: with its discharge-pipe and valve, together with themechanism for automatically operating the latter. Fig. 6 is a sectionalelevation showingportions of the trough with its discharge-pipes andtheir valves and a portion of the tanks, together with the mechanism forautomatically operating the said valves; and Fig. 7 is a sectionalelevation showing the portions of the tanks with their discharge-pipesand valves, together with the mechanism for automatically operating thesaid valves. Figs. 4:, 6, and 7 are taken looking in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the settling-tank is represented at 1, a septic-tank at 2. 3is a trough, and 4, 5, 6, and 7 are bacterial tanks. The effluent ispassed from the settling-tank 1 by way of a Figs. 2 and 3 arerespectively a 'IOO and 17.

discharge-pipe 8 to the septic-tank 2, and from the latter by way of theconnecting pipe 9 to the trough 3, which latter communicates with thevarious bacterial tanks 4, 5, G, and 7 by way of discharge-pipes 10, 11,12, and 13, the said tanks 4, 5, 6, and 7 being also provided withdischarge-pipes 14, 15, 16,

Each of the discharge-pipes is provided with a valve 18 of the typeshown at Figs. 2 and 3, in which figures, 8 is the discharge-pipe, themouth of which is formed with a flange 19, situated obliquely to theaxis of the pipe, and on the face of this flange 19 the valve 18 isarranged to slide, studs 20, fixed in the flange 19 and passing throughslot-holes 21 in the valve, being employed for retaining the said valvein position and also for admitting of its required sliding movement,while the weight of the said valve 18 is such as to tend to keep thesame in the down position, covering the oval mouth of the discharge-pipe8, as shown.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, 1 is a settlingtank into which the sewage isfirst discharged,

and 8 is a discharge-pipe provided with a valve 18 of the descriptionhereinbefore referred to. On the wall of the tank 1 I fix a standard 22,provided with an adjustable bracket 23, in which is rotatably mounted achain-Wheel 24, which is provided with a pitch-chain 25, one end of thesaid chain being connected to the upper part of the valve 18 by means ofa wire 26, which passes thereto by way of a guide-pulley 27. On a stud28 of a bracket 29 I pivot a double-ended lever 30, to one end of whichthe opposite end of the chain to that which is connected to the valve 18is attached by means of a wire 31, while the other arm of the lever 30is forked and provided with runners 32 On the wall of the tank 1 I fixasecond standard 33, carrying an adjustable bracket 34, provided withrunners 35 35, between which is mounted a rod 36, carrying a float 37 atits lower end, which float also passes between the runners 32 32 of thelever 30, and the said float-rod 36 is provided with collars 38 38,which are adjustable thereon. The wheel 34 has holes 39 formed in thesame, suitable for receiving a stop-pin 40.

In the drawings I have shown the apparatus set for a normal ordry-weather flow, in which the valve 18 is held up, so as to uncoverhalf of the oval section of the discharge-pipe 8 by the stop-pin in thewheel 24, engaging the bracket 23 and so preventing the valve 18 slidingdown upon its flange 19 of the pipe 8, whereby a continuous desired flowto the first tank is obtained. Should an increased quantity of sewage bedelivered to the tank 1, the float 37 will be raised in proportion tothe rise of sewage in the tank, with the result that on the lower collar38 of the float-rod 36 engaging the arm of the double-ended lever 30 thesame will be rocked on its stud 28, causing the opposite arm of thelever 30 to be depressed, thus drawing forward the chain 25, rotatingthe chain-wheel 24, and raising the valve 18 through the medium of thewire 26 and so uncovering the oval section of the dischargepipe 8 to therequired amount, while on the excess flow subsiding the float 37 willlower and allow the parts to return to their normal positions, with thevalve 18 at half-open. Ad ditional stop-pins may be inserted in theholes 39 of the wheel 24 for the purpose of limiting the amount ofmovement of the said pulley, and thus limiting the extent to which thedischarge-valve 18 may be opened, and it will be seen that by adjustingthe stop-pin 40 in its Wheel 24 a variable delivery to the first tankmay be effected, both as to prede termined quantity and conditions offlow.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, 3 is a trough, and 4 and 5 are two of thetanks in the series, and in the drawings I have shown that portion ofthe trough 3, provided with the discharge-pipes 10 and 11, by which theefiluent is discharged into the said tanks 4 and 5, the latter beingprovided with the dischargepipes 14 and 15. Each of the discharge-pipesis provided with a valve 18 of the description hereinhefore referred to,and on the wall of the trough 3 (see Fig. 6) immediately over each ofthe valves 18 I fix a standard 22, provided with an adjustable bracketcarrying a stud 41, on which is rotatably mounted a chain-wheel 24,provided with a pitch-chain 25, one end of the said chain beingconnected to the upper part of the valve 18 by means of a wire 26, whichpasses thereto by way of a guide-pulley 27, while the opposite end ofthe said chain 25 is connected by a Wire 31 to an arm 42, mounted on arock-shaft 43 of the preceding tank, which shaft extends across from thetrough 3 to the tank opposite and is carried by suitable bracketslocated on their respective walls. On the stud 41 I mount aratchet-wheel 44, which is attached to the chain-Wheel 24, and on a stud45 of an adjustable bracket 46 on the standard 22 I pivot a pawl 47,which engages the ratchet-Wheel 44, and the said pawl 47 is formed witha lever 48. Each ratchet-wheel 44 is provided with an adjustable pin 49,which is connected by a wire 50 to the pawllever 48 of the precedingratchet-wheel 44. On the wall of each of the tanks 4, 5, 6, and 7 (thewall nearest to the trough) I fix a standard 33, carrying an adjustablebracket 34, provided with runners 35 35, between which is mounted a rod36, carrying a float 37 at its lower end within the tank, which floatrod36 also passes between runners 32 32, located on an arm 53, mounted onthe rock -shaft 43, and the said floatrod 36 is provided with collars 3838, which are adjustable thereon. The float 37 of each tank in theseries is inclosed by a perforated casing 51. On the opposite Wall ofeach of the tanks 4, 5, 6, and 7 to that just referred to (see Fig. 7) Ifixa standard 33 carrying an adjustable bracket 34 provided with runners35* 35*, between which is mounted a rod 36*, carrying a float 37 at itslower end'within the tank, which float-rod 36 also passes betweenrunners 32 32 located on the forked end of one arm of a bell-crankrocking lever 30*, while the other arm of the said lever is connected tothe upper part of the valve 18 of the preceding tank by means of wire 26which passes thereto by Way of guide-pulleys 27 27 and the saidfloat-rod 36 is provided with collars 38 38 which are adjustablethereon. The valve 18 and float 37 of each tank are inclosed by aperforated casing 52.

I have assumed that the effluent is flowing into the trough 3 from thetank 1 continuously by way of the septic-tank 2, from which trough 3 itis to be fed into the tanks 4, 5, 6, and 7 in succession, and in thedrawings the mechanism at Figs. 6 and 7 is shown in position, assumingtank 7, Fig. 1, to be full, with the valve 18 of the discharge-pipe 13of the trough 3 in the down position, covering the mouth of the saiddischarge-pipe 13, while the valve 18 of the discharge-pipe of thetrough 3 is at full open, so that tank 4 is being filled. Now as thesewage rises in tank 4 (see Fig. 6) its float 37*, contained in thecasing 51, rises in proportion, with the result that the lower collar 38on the float-rod 36*" engages and raises the arm 53 when the shaft 43and its lever 42 is rocked back, thus drawing forward the wire 31 andchain rotating the wheel 24 and ratchet-wheel 44, whereby the valve 18of the discharge-pipe 11 is raised to effect the discharge into tank 5,and simultaneously with this action the wire 50, in connection with thepin 49 on the said rotated wheel 44, pulls on the lever 48 of the pawl47, in connection with the gear of the outlet 10, and so rocks the saidpawl 47 on its pivot and liberates the ratchet-wheel 44, when the valve18 of the outlet 10 slides down and covers the said outlet, and thisautomatic action of opening and closing the valves 18 of thedischarge-pipes 10, 11, 12, and 13 in the trough 3 is continued, so asto fill the tanks 4, 5, 6, and 7 successively throughout the cycle oftanks. As tank 4 fills (see Fig. 7) the float 37*, contained in thecasing 52 on the discharge side of the said tank, rises and rocks itsbell-crank lever 30 which pulls forward the wire 26 and raises the valve18, in connection with the discharge-pipe 17 of the tank 7, Fig. 1,whereby the latter is emptied, and on tank 5 filling the float 37therein on rising rocks its bell-crank lever 30 and pulls forward thewire 26 and raises the valve 18 of the discharge-pipe 14 of the tank 4to empty the same, and so on in succession throughout the cycle oftanks.

By employing the automatic apparatus above described the tanks in theseries may be filled in succession, and by adjusting the valve inconnection with the discharge-pipe of the first receiver proportionatelyto the capacity of the series of tanks the said tanks are filled, standfull, and stand empty for predetermined periods of time.

I have now described by way of example a complete set of gear as appliedto the system of tanks illustrated at Fig. 1 of the drawings; but it isobvious that my arrangement of apparatus will be equally applicable toany number of tanks, which number can only be determined by the needs ofany partioular district, and, further, I may, if desired, employ thegear described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 apart from the geardescribed with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 for effecting a continuousflow to systems of treatment other than that of a series ofchange-tanks.

Having now described my invention, what v I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a sewage settlingtank or the like receiver havinga dischargepipe, a slide-valve located on the mouth of thedischarge-pipe, a chain attached to the upper part of the said valve andpassing over a chain-wheel, with which it engages, to one arm of adouble-ended rocking lever,a float lo.- cated within the tank having itsrod arranged to engage the opposite or free arm of the double-endedrocking lever, standards on the wall of the tank provided with bracketsrespectively carrying the chain-wheel and the float-rod, saidchain-wheel being formed with holes for the reception of stop-pins,whereby an automatic variable delivery is effected both as topredetermined quantity and conditions of flow, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination with a system of sewagetanks, a trough located betweenthe continuously-discharging tank or first receiver and the series ofchange-tanks, a separate discharge-pipe connecting the trough to each ofthe change-tanks, aslide-valve located on the mouth of eachdischarge-pipe, a chain attached to the upper part ofthe valve andpassing over a chain-wheel, with which it engages, to a lever located ona rock-shaft in connection with the tank of the preceding trough-outlet,a float located within the said preceding tank having its rod arrangedto en gage a lever on the said rock-shaft, standards on the wall of thetrough and tank respectively provided withbrackets carrying tached tothe upper part-of the valve and passing by way of guide-pulleys to onearm from each of the tanks successively, subof a bell-crank lever in thesubsequent tank, stantially as described. 16 a float located within thesaid subsequent In witness whereof I have hereunto set my tank havingits red arranged to engage the hand in presence of two witnesses.

other arm of the said bell-crank lever, a THOMAS HENRY RAMSDEN. standardon the Wall of the tank provided WVitnesses:

with a bracket carrying the float-rod, where JOHN JOWETT,

by the effluent is automatically discharged FRANCES D. BARRAOLOUGH.

